Method of making shoe sole blanks



Oct. 26, 1943.

H.|L. PIERSCN METHOD OF MAKING SHOE SOLE BLANKS Filed Nov. 20. 1942 @Mmmm/@amm M Il"Il IIHIIIIIIIIIIIILUI l ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 26, 1943 UNI-TeusrA-TES PATENT N oFFxcs i I Harold L. Pierson, Rochester, N. assigner to.

P. Reed & Co., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation'of New York Application November zo, lsviaseri'si Nt. 466,385

s (ananas.V (c1. 12e-14er This invention relates to a methodrof Vmaking a shoe sole blank, with particular reference to a leather outer sole composed of a l-rnultiplicityof separate` cross-pieces united by a supporting layer cemented thereto,A and it has for its object to afford a practical, efcient, and'economcal procedureby which such supporting layer can be readily and `securely attached to the separate cross-pieces. j v s Such a shoe solev blank can be manufactured fromsmall parts of Waste leather by` cutting therefrom suitably j shaped individual crosse pieces which are subsequently assembled into a unitary structure to afford a blank from which ,the finished outsole can `be formed,A and one object ofthe invention is -to afford a method by which` the cross-pieces can lbe accurately located in proper relationto each other and Aheld in intimate engagement with each 4other while. the supporting layer is'attached. 1

Another purpose ofthe invention is toafford a method that insures a permanent and secure attachment between the supporting layer and -separate cross-pieces'so that While a'certain amount of relative movement between adjacent crosspieces is permitted owing-to the flexibility of the supporting layer, the latter remains iixedly. attached to the adjacent surfaces ofthe cross-` pieces. A Y f l The methodinvolved depends onr the use of suitable cement ior affixing the supporting layer to the cross-pieces while the latter are held proper relation Within a surrounding positioning form; and it is a further object of the invention to hold the cross-pieces by engaging them at, spaced intervals around their periphery, as for instance `by means of a corrugated Wall aording spaces between the points Aof contact with the cross-pieces; `so that any 'slight seepage of ce-f ment will ovv into the spaces-between the contact points of the wall, and 4thus not interfere, withaccurately positioning the cross-pieces and requireonly occasional cleaning of the form to rid it-of cement; `An additionalv object of the invention is to afford a method that reduces to a minimumy the amount of cement that 'hardens in the positioning form and brings about athoroughly eective and permanent union between `the supportingv layer and cross-pieces `by utilizing a pyroxylinA sheet betweenthe supporting layer and cross` pieces corresponding in size to the supporting layer.

Still another object `of the invention is to aiford a method in which the cross-pieces are held in such a manner by the positioning form. that they can be easily removed therefrom after comf pletion of `the `cementing operation and also quickly and readily inserted into the form previously to thecementing operation.

To v,these and other ends, the -invention coneY sists in the method that Will appearclearly from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, the .novel featuresbeing pointed out in the claims following the specicatiorr lIn the drawing: l Fig., 1 is a plan View, illustrating the application of theV separate crossfpieces composing .a leather shoe sole blank to a positioning forniwithr the supporting layerjthereon, the intermediate pyroxylin layer between the supporting layer and cross-pieces not appearing since this is the same size aslthe supporting layer ;l

, Fig 2` is a :longitudinal sectionalview on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the relation ofthe cross-pieces,fwith the heel cross-piecein convex position beforepressure` is` applied, and the py. roXylin sheet betweenthe supportinglayer and cross-pieces; Y r

".Fig 3 is a sectional View ,of the positioning form,and f Fig. i is a sectional View similar to Fig. 2 showing therelation ofthe parts as pressure is ap, plied to the supporting layer', pyroxylin sheet, and cross-pieces, to flatten the heel piece and anxthe supporting layer. p p The present invention is in the nature .of an improved method `for manufacturing a` leather shoe sole. blanktobe used in the production of a Ashoe sole and,.,shoe such as Vdisclosed ,injmy pending application serial No.441,0o3,1ed`Apn1 29, 1942, which discloses an outer sole composed otamultiplicitypfseparate cross-.pieces held to,- gether in annitary assembly by means of a supporting layer cemented thereto. l Referring more particularly to the vdrawing in Whichiike-reference nurneralsreferv to the same parts throughout the several views, the shoe sole blank is composed ofa suitable number for in` stance -ve 4separate leather cross-pieces which can be `readily die-cut from small. portions of leather heretofore generally regarded as Waste material,` and. in the ,embodiment shown, these include atoe portion cross-piece I that has parallel front and back edges 2 and 3 respectivelyI and converging side `edges 4. 5 designates an intermediate cross-piece that is preferably of rectangularformationas shown in Fig. 1, B is a, ball portion cross-piece, 'l is an instep vportion crosspiece that is preferably of rectangular formation, and 8 is a heel portion cross-piece extending from the instep portion cross-piece'l to the rear end of the form, the heel portion cross-piece 8 being preferably of greater length from front to rear than the remaining cross-pieces for a purpose that will appear presently.

Referringto Fig. ,-2, the cross-pieces are positioned so that the grain side ofA theleather is on the bottom and constitutes the exposed surface of the finished outsole, and the cross-pieces are transversely indented or grooved as at 9 to give an effect on the finished sole of narrow transverse strips of approximately uniform width, the

grooves 9 simulating in appearancethe joints.

between the separate cross-pieces.

In order to hold the cross-pieces in proper relationship during cementing of the supporting layer, they are arranged within a positioning form that engages their outer edges or periphery at spaced intervals, and this is preferably accomplished by a form that includes a base plate II, having an opening I2 at its rear end for apurpose that will be explained later, and provided with an upstanding vertically corrugated wall VI3 of approximately the same height as the thickness of the leather cross-pieces. y

The Ywall I3 is formed of a transversely corrugated flexible metal ribbon yor strip that is secured edgewise to the base plate II hy solder I4, spot-welding, or in any other suitable fashion, the wall I3 being arranged on the base plate II so as to conform to the shape of the finished shoe sole blank to be produced and of the several cross-pieces already described when they are .m

assembled into the desired completed 'relationship. It is to be understood that the cross-pieces are cut to predetermined size land shape to iit a given positioning form, and that a. separate form is provided for each different size of shoe sole blank.

The total lengthof the cross-pieces from 'front to rear is slightly greater than the length of the positioning form or the space which they finally occupy, such excess length being afforded preferably in the heel portion cross-piece 8 which can be slightly convexed when first positioned in the form owingto its greater length, as shown in Fig. 2, and is attened in the formL when pressure is applied, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby forcing all the cross-pieces slightly endwise of the form and crowding them into intimate contiguous relationship. The supporting layer I6 is cut from a leather split or other suitable thin flexible material to predetermined form, as shown in Fig. 1, withits front edgel I1 conforming to the front edge of the toe portion cross-piece I and of the positioning form. and is cemented to the cross-pieces by the application of cement and pressure. This is preferably attained vby interposing a pyroxylin sheet or wafer` I8 between the supporting layer I6 and the cross-pieces after rstdipping the pyroxylin sheet in any desiredsoftening solution to activate it suitably for attachment.

The pyroxylin sheet is cut to approximately the same size as the supporting layer I6, which latter extends over Vthe forward part of the heel portion cross-piece 8 and all of the other crosspieces. and the positioning form with the parts applied as described is then placed in a suitable press and pressure applied through a rubber pad I9, see Fig. 4, which results in flattening the heel portion cross-piece-B and securely afiixing' the supporting layer tothe several cross-pieces.

(iii

After the positioning form is removed from the press, the blank can readily be ejected 4by applying a finger through the opening I2 to push the blank out of engagement with the surrounding side wall I3 of the form. This removal of the blank from the form is facilitated because the leather cross-pieces are engaged only at spaced intervals` around the periphery bythe inwardly extending corrugations'of `the Wall I3, which arrangement also quickly facilitates the positioning of the cross-pieces in the form.

A further advantage in engaging the crosspieces only at spaced intervals by the utilization of a corrugated VVwall lies in the fact that when pressure isapplied, if any cement exudes from between thesupporting layer and cross-pieces, it finds its way into the spaces afforded between the corrugations ofthe surrounding wall and thus does not aifect the efficiency of the form for succeedncy operations. With this arrangement, it

is necessary to clean the form and removehardened cement only at infrequent intervals, and the spaced contact points arealways available-for correct lpositioning of the leather`cross-piece`s. This has a further distinct advantageA as contrasted with a form having a straight engaging side Wall which wouldhave continuous engagement with the periphery of the leather blank, as the latter quickly clogs with exuded cement, requires too frequent cleaning, makes it more difcult both to position the leather cross-pices and remove the finished blank, and is unfltted commercially for carrying out the procedureas indicated. y `l While theinvention has been described with reference to certain particular steps' inprocedure, it is not confined to the exact details ofthe method as disclosed, and this `application is intended to cover such departures 'or modified oper-v ations as may come-within the purposes o1 the improvement'or the scope'of the following claims. l

Iclaim: Y Y 1. The-method of rmaking'a shoe 'sole blank from a multiplicity-of separate cross-pieces,which includes Aarranging said cross-"pieces within a surrounding :positioning formy in juxtarelation to each other, said cross-pieces having afslightly` greater total length than'that of the forma'nd one of said cross-pieces being arranged in-"the form in convex position, cementing a supporting layer to the cross-pieces, and applyingpressure against the supporting layer and rcross-pieces whereby theV convexe'dpiece'is flattened' in the formY forcing all the cross-pieces into intimate contiguous Vrel'ationand the supporting layer is permanently attached tothe cross-pieces. j

y2. The methodv ofV making a shoe solei-blank from a multiplicity of' separate cross-pieces, which includes arranging said-cross-pieces vwithin a surrounding positioning forminjuxtarelation to each other, positioning a supporting-layer over the cross-pieces with a pyroxylin sheet between it and the cross-pieces, and applying pressure against the supporting lay'enf'pyroxylin.

sheet, andl cross-pieces to attach the supporting layer permanently to the cross-pieces. Y.'

3. The method of 'making a shoe sole. from a multiplicity of separate cross-pieces, which includes arranging said cross-pieces within a'sur'rounding positioning form in juxtarela-y around their periphery, positioning a support* ing layer over the cross-pieces with a pyroxylin sheet between it and the cross-pieces, and apply.` ing pressure against the supporting layer, Pyrexylin sheet, and cross-pieces whereby the sup-V porting layer is permanently attached yto the cross-pieces.

5. The method of making av shoe sole blank from a' multiplicity of separate cross-pieces, which includes arranging said cross-pieces in juxtarelation to each other and holding them in such position by engagementof` a surrounding Y corrugated wall of a positioning form, said corrugated wall affording spaces between the points of contact with the cross-pieces, cementing a supporting layer to the cross-pieces, and applying pressure to the supporting layer and cross-pieces to attach said parts permanently.l f

6. The method of making ashoe sole blank from a multiplicity of separate cross-pieces, which includes arranging said cross-pieces in juxtarelation to each other and holding them in such position by engagement of a surrounding corrugated wall of a positioning form, said corrugated wall affording spaces between the points of contact with the cross-pieces, the cross-pieces having a slightly greater total length than that of the form and one of said cross-pieces being arranged in the form in convex position, cementing a supporting layer to the cross-pieces, and applying pressure against the supporting layer and cross-pieces whereby the convexed piece is flattened in the form forcing all the cross-pieces into intimate contiguous relation and the supporting `layer is `permanently attached to the y such position by engagement vat points spaced cross-pieces.

7. The method 'of making a shoe sole blank from a multiplicity of separate cross-pieces,

'which includes arranging said-cross-pieces in juxtarelation to each other and holding them in such position by engagement of a surrounding corrugated wall of a positioning form, said corrugated wall affording spaces between the points of contact with the cross-pieces, positioning a supporting layerv over the cross-pieces with` a pyroxylin sheet between it and the cross-pieces,

andapplying pressure against the supporting layer, pyroxylin sheet, and cross-pieces whereby the supporting layer is permanently attached to the cross-pieces.

8. The method of making a shoe sole blank from a multiplicity of separate cross-pieces, which includes arranging said cross-pieces in juxtarelation to each other and holding them in such position by engagement of a surrounding corrugated wall of a positioning form, said corrugated wall affording spaces between the points of contact with the cross-pieces, the cross-pieces having a slightly greater total length than that of thesurrounding form and one of said crosspieces being arranged in the form in convex position, positioning a supporting layer over the cross-pieces with a pyroxylin sheet between it and the cross-pieces, and applying pressure against the supporting layer, pyroxylin sheet, and

cross-pieces whereby the convexed piece is riattened forcing all the cross-pieces into intimate contiguous relation and the supporting layer is Y permanently attached to the cross-pieces.

HAROLD L. PIERSON. 

